WE GORD A LIFT JUST AT RIGHT TIME

AFTER last week's unfortunate events at Tynecastle when we had to deal with the dismissal of a second manger this season it was refreshing to kick-off Cup semi-final week on a high note.

Monday's good news that Craig Gordon had committed his future to Hearts until 2009 was the perfect boost ahead of our eagerly-anticipated clash with Hibs at Hampden on Sunday.

Over the past few months our club has been back and front page news and it seems not a day passes without one crisis or another.

However, almost in one fell swoop, Craig's decision to sign a new contract helped ensure there was a feelgood factor at among both the players and supporters again.

As Walter Smith said yesterday it is fantastic news for Scottish football to keep our best talent in our own country.

It's great for the club and our national side and I'm absolutely delighted Craig has pledged his future to Hearts when he could quite easily have joined any top club in Europe.

He has been in outstanding form this season and has matured into a top-class goalkeeper.

Ofcourse there are still aspect of his game he needs to improve on and Craig would be the first to admit that because he is such a perfectionist. Yet he doesn't have too many flaws.

During my career I have been lucky enough to play alongside Andy Goram and Antti Niemi, both of whom were world-class keepers.

I can't speak highly enough about their qualities but I honestly think Craig is the best No.1 I've ever had the privilege to work with. That's how highly I rate him.

The one thing he has over the other two is his size and stature. Yet, for someone so tall he is exceptionally agile and that makes for a magnificent combination.

Alot of us maybe expected him to move on in the summer so for the club to retain his services for the next three years is a great piece of business.

I congratulated Craig after he signed and told him it's now time to get rid of the Super Squirrel savings account he's had all these years as there's no way it will be able to accommodate all the money from his new deal.

But, on a serious note, Craig's new contract also highlights the intent of Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov. A lot has been written about him of late but people can't question his determination to make Hearts a successful club.

Re-signing Craig sends out all the right signals just days before Hearts play in arguably the biggest Edinburgh derby of all time.

Somebody was telling me the last time the two teams met in a Scottish Cup semi-final was 1901 so it's hardly surprising both sets of fans are so excited about this weekend's clash.

We are all up for the game and after quite a traumatic few days last week after Graham Rix's sacking the dust appears to have settled and everyone seems focused on the semi-final.

The players responded in the best possible manner at the weekend and although I can't remember much about it because my head was so scrambled I don't think it was a vintage Hearts display.

But the bottom line is we picked up three points against Falkirk and moved another step closer to finishing second in the league behind Celtic.

A lot of people were watching for the reaction of the players after Graham's departure and I think we proved to ourselves we are mentally strong. It's a matter of when and not if Celtic win the SPL but if we can claim the second Champions League spot it would be a terrific season.

To have something tangible for all our efforts at the end of the campaign is what everybody is aiming for. I'm also hoping I can return to just being the captain of the team instead of shop steward and spokesman in times of crisis.

I became skipper because people recognised my influence on the park and during the first 15 games of this season my job simply entailed training as hard as I could and playing.

I must admit I never enjoyed my football as much as I did at that time.

Since then it's been quite a stressful four or five months and I can't wait for some stability. There will be nobody happier than me when everyone at the club can return to normality.

It has been impossible to relax properly. I'm a 24/7 type of guy anyway and because the club means a great deal to me I've been unable to get away from all the pressures.

The only brief moment of respite came on the day Graham left when eight or nine of the players honoured a commitment to raise money for Edinburgh Sick Kids at a charity quiz

That allowed us to get away from things and we even let our masseur, Alan Robson, come along after he assured us he was a quiz king.

Unfortunately he proved to be the Weakest Link so it will be goodbye to Alan for any future quiz nights.

Taken from the Daily Record